(24 Nov 2013, 3:57 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Well I think we've discussed this before that its just a bit of marketing and cleaver wording that the X36 has 'Proved Popular with passengers' it hasn't been as popular as the X3 never mind more popular. The idea of increasing the X36 is all about killing two birds with one stone;
A) Maintain the local links around Witherwack/Downhill to Sunderland City Centre
B) Passengers wanting a Sunderland-Newcastle Express.
Also it creates a USP for the local passengers of connections to Newcastle for Christmas Shopping, Heworth Metro & Boldon Asda which they'll hope will compete against Stagecoach.
It also can help GNE's Buzzfare sales those in Fulwell & East Boldon will be forced to buy a single to Boldon Asda/Sunderland Interchange and then a single to Heworth/Gateshead/Newcastle and the cheaper option than two Singles will likely be a Purple & Red Buzzfare assuming they are returning.
Meanwhile the changes to the 9 mean they have frequent single service along Jarrow-Boldon-Fulwell-Sunderland, also those who travel on the 26 to Jarrow from Sunderland North will have to go via Sunderland Interchange or Boldon, which again could push up Buzzfare sales.
I got the X36 from Sunderland to Heworth on Friday and I was the only one on it leaving Park Lane till it got to Boldon Asda where 4 people got on, then at Heworth everyone got off leaving it to run empty to Gateshead and possibly into Newcastle as I doubt anyone would of got on at Gateshead.
Wish GNE would see the Light at the end of the Tunnel and realise the X3/X36 don't get used as much as they should, and then go back to having an Xpress Service to Newcastle via Washington where it'll actually get used and make money in the process.